Amid a struggling economy and rising unemployment, lifelong Flushing resident John Choe felt things needed to change. So in 2011 he started the nonprofit One Flushing with a goal of bringing the Flushing business community together.

While Flushing has grown to be one of the largest commercial districts in the city, it has yet to reach its full potential, said Choe, who served as chief of staff for Councilman John Liu and later as director of policy when Liu became comptroller.

“I feel that every day is really an opportunity for me to give back to the community,” he said. “This is my home, this is where I live and the people that I’m helping are my neighbors.”

The organization provides a variety of services for the employed and unemployed in the community. They assist people with assessing their skills, creating résumés, and preparing for interviews.

On March 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., it will hold a business boot camp centered on e-commerce and social media.

One Flushing is also in constant contact with businesses regarding job openings, and once a month holds meetings where companies are invited to network and share ideas.

However, one missing component in the business community is a chamber of commerce, Choe said. The old Flushing Chamber of Commerce went defunct a couple of years ago, but before that was inactive for years, failing to adapt to changes in the community.

“What we really need is a different model of the chamber,” he said. “How do we create an umbrella where everyone can come together as a business community?”